What Dual Capture is
Dual Capture is the Camera app mode on the iPhone 17 lineup that records the front and back cameras at the same time. You see yourself in a small window while you film the scene, and it saves one video with both views.
Why the iPhone 16 does not have it
Apple ships features like this with new phones. The iPhone 16's A18 chip can run the front and back cameras together without any trouble; Apple's own multi-camera framework has supported this since the A12 chip in 2018. The mode is simply not in the iPhone 16's Camera app.
So the hardware is not the barrier. Any app that uses Apple's multi-camera framework can give an iPhone 16 the same ability.
Dual capture iPhone: every model that supports it
| Model | Dual Capture in the Camera app | Dual capture with an app |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16e | No | Yes |
| iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11 series | No | Yes |
| iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, SE (2nd and 3rd generation) | No | Yes |
| iPhone X and older | No | No |
How to get dual capture on iPhone 16
- Install Lookout from the App Store. It is free and runs on iOS 17 or later.
- Allow camera and microphone access when asked.
- Frame the shot: the back camera on the scene, the front camera on you.
- Press record, or say "Hey Lookout" if your hands are full.
That is all. You get the same result as Dual Capture on an iPhone 17: both cameras, one synced take.
What an app can do that the Camera app cannot
- Start by voice, so you can record from across the room.
- Apple Watch preview and control of both camera views.
- Black-screen recording, so a lit screen is not distracting anyone.
- A dash cam mode for the road and the cabin at once.